New Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman eager to make impact

Latest News

RANDY SPORTAK, QMI Agency

Jan 8, 2013

, Last Updated: 11:04 PM ET

CALGARY - All things considered, it wouldn’t be unacceptable for a Calgary Flames fan to have forgotten the signing of Dennis Wideman.

Seeing as it happened on the eve of the July 1 free-agent frenzy and that embarrassing NHL lockout has dominated the headlines between then and now, it wouldn’t be a shock if the addition of Wideman falls into the “oh yeah” category.

It’s felt like an eternity since then for him, too.

“When I signed that contract ... seems like so long ago,” the defenceman said Tuesday after skating with the collection of NHLers at the WinSport facility. “I was really excited and couldn’t wait to get going. With how (the lockout) dragged on, it’s taken away some of that.

“But now we’re starting, I’m excited again to get going.”

It’s not been made official, but the latest scuttlebutt is training camps will likely open on the weekend, with the 48-game NHL season starting Saturday, Jan. 19.